A method for fastening a two-piece surgical fastener to bodily tissue whereby the surgical fastener has a safety position. The method comprises inserting first and second piercing posts through at least two layers of tissue and attaching a receiving portion to the coupling ends of the first and second piercing posts. Each of the first and second piercing posts have a fixed end and a coupling end, the first piercing post being fixedly-attached at its fixed end to a first base portion, the second piercing post being fixedly-attached at its fixed end to a second base portion, the first and second base portions being foldably coupled to one another by a hinge, where a bias device imparts a bias force on at least one of the first base portion and the second base portion in a direction toward the other and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hinge.